Analysis of particle production at large transverse momentum
Abstract
An analysis of large-transverse-momentum data is carried out using local exponents which characterize the dependence of the cross sections on ${p}_{T}$ and $\ensuremath{\epsilon}=\frac{{(\mathrm{missing}\mathrm{mass})}^{2}}{s}$. The results of this effective-power analysis allow any model to be critically compared to the data in a simple but meaningful way. Selected models are examined. A survey of the features of the constituent-interchange model (CIM) is given for inclusive scattering, and some special features for electromagnetic processes are discussed. The CIM can explain, in a simple way, not only the behavior of the local exponents but also their specific values for each particle type using the quark-counting rules. Quasielastic peaks in the $\ensuremath{\epsilon}$ distribution are observed for the difference between particle and antiparticle production ($p\ensuremath{-}\overline{p}$, ${K}^{+}\ensuremath{-}{K}^{\ensuremath{-}}$) which are consistent with expectations. Further crucial tests of the CIM are discussed.